Case Study
Scott McKenzie is a nationally recognized lawyer in personal injury law, and has been practicing law as an Injury Attorney Atlanta since 1983 is currently practicing personal injury law in Atlanta. Scott McKenzie goes into detail about Eastern Caribbean and Maritime law affects you.
The following case summary details a crew member of the Royal Caribbean crew member who was injured aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship the “Jewel of the Seas”.
Cruise lines normally hire workers from abroad to work on the cruise ships giving those who are interested an opportunity for adventure and travel. The crew member who was injured in this particular cruise ship was from Serbia, she suffered a herniated disc as a result of another crew member slamming a door hitting her on her back. The ships on board doctor advised her to take time off and found her unfit for work. However her supervisor either short staffed or didn’t believe her case ordered her to continue working in her role.
As a result of her continuing her role and performing all the work related functions related of her, the ship doctor didn’t see a need for further examinations such as MRIs or X-Rays. After several weeks of continuing to force herself to perform her duties, she eventually collapsed from her injuries sustained from the door slamming on her back, she was immediately put on IV drips and morphine to handle the pain she’s been dealing for the past 7 weeks.
Royal Caribbean cruise ships sent her back to Serbia without proper medical attention, giving her only $12 a day for her salary. It took over 4 months of negotiations for Royal Caribbean to finally pay for a surgery which would fix her herniated disc, unfortunately the doctor performing the surgery on the wrong level, and Royal Caribbean refused to cover the cost to properly fix her injuries, any rehabilitation amounts and X-Rays and MRIs necessary to properly treat the issues caused by her herniated disc.
She retained a law firm which took Royal Caribbean Cruises to court and she was awarded $1.25 million for her injuries.
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Laws
The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) was established in the late 1960s to be the superior court of record for the Organizatoin of Eastern Caribbean States which also includes the independent states of Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Commonwealth of Dominica as well as the three territories for British Overseas. It was established by the West Indies Associated States Supreme Court Order No. 223 in 1967.
The main headquarters for the ECSC is located in Castries, Saint Lucia, specifically in the Heraldine Rock Building, Block B on the Waterfront. It includes the Justices of Appeal’s chambers, the Court of Appeal Registry, the Judicial Education Institute Library and also the Administrative Services. There are also Court Offices for the ECSC located in nine member states which house the chambers for the High Court Judges as well as the offices of the High Court Registry.
The various systems and departments in the ECSC and most specifically the High Court Registry is headed by a legally trained Registrar. He provides the High Court with administrative and legal support so that it would function properly. The function of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court consists of three main duties. First is to interpret and apply the laws of various member states of the OECS. Secondly, it has to decide cases on both the civil and criminal levels. Finally, the Easter Caribbean Supreme Court must hear appeals. Simply put, the ECSC leads the judicial branch as well as interprets the law for the member states. A lot of times, the responsibilities cover evaluating laws that are challenged as to their overall makeup. They settle disputes that may arise between states and hear cases involving the laws on appeal.
Each and every member of the ECSC has a specific duty. From the chief justice to all the other justices, they ensure that the judicial system runs as smoothly as possible. The Chief Justice heads the whole of the supreme court and the Justices do their part to help in the interpretation and application of the law.